RIP Facts of Life Star Charlotte Rae! Remembering The Iconic Star and Learning The Facts of Life Throughout The Years!!

I was so sad last night to learn that the world said goodbye to Charlotte Rae, aka Mrs. G from The Facts of Life.

As most of you know, I’m a huge fan of the series and used to watch it all the time growing up. I don’t know what it was about the show that drew me to it in my formidable years, but it was on all the time thanks to syndication and then of course on NBC. It’s always hard when so many icons on shows we grew up with pass away.

Charlotte was so nice and adorable in person. I’ve been able to meet her a few times over the years. The Facts of Life event at Paley, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, but the first time I met Charlotte was and will be my favorite. It’s a memory I will never forget and I still smile when I think of it.

RIP Charlotte. You will be missed!

M-

“(insert 80’s guitar riff here) You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have, the facts of life, gotta get em’ right! When you hear it from your brother, better clear it with your mother…” Yeah, I could go on… and on… AND ON! I LOVE THE FACTS OF LIFE! I just got season 5 on DVD for Christmas and have been an ardent Facts Fan for my entire life. I mean Facts trivia… I’m your man… So, when I sat there perusing the comings and goings this week something caught my eye… none other than Mrs. Garrett herself Ms. Charlotte Rae was doing a rare appearance at the opening of the musical Hair. I just about peed myself. I had to get a picture with Mrs. G! Hello! There are a bunch of other random people supposed to be there as well, so both Pinky and Scotty wanted to go… Cause you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both…

6:22 p.m. – Pinky and I just walked a mile to get here. Lol… Scotty has been texting me asking where the hell we are… lol… Ah well, late as ever.

6:23 p.m. – Scotty wants some girl from Rent and Mrs. Garrett also. I brought my promo Facts of Life lunchbox with me I got when season 1 was released on DVD. No Judgments! Lol… Yes, I am proud to admit I have a Facts of Life lunchbox, it’s very stylish and perfect for all the after school adventures! Sigh… I’m such a dork.

6:45 p.m. – There are some random audience members coming though, but it’s actually kinda slow.

6:51 p.m. – Poor Scotty is very bored. He has his Breakfast Club laser disc with him cause Judd Nelson is supposed to be here. Pinky is armed with her camera. LOL…

6:54 p.m. – I really want Ms. Rebecca DeMornay cause I’m a huge huge fan since back in day. Of course she was great in Risky Business as well. Ah… Sad times…

7:03 p.m. – Shirley Jones husband, Marty Ingels, just showed up… sans Shirley Jones… but he has a cardboard cut out of Shirley Jones with him to pose with.

7:05 p.m. – Now, I get the joke and it’s kinda funny, but having to carry a cardboard cut our of your wife everywhere seems to be a bit exhausting… and where do you put the cut out when you’re done with the red carpet? Hmmmmm….

7:09 p.m. – I mean do you sit next to the Shirley Jones cut out? Do you prop it against a wall? Shove it in a car? Hmmmmmmm Marty Ingels Inquiring minds want to know…

7:11 p.m. – I need to stop obsessing over the cut out… Now, I’m thinking of other things to do with it, or could be done with it and it’s just wrong…

7:15 p.m. – Pinky is getting bored and we’re all thinking that this is a bust… sigh…No Charlotte Rae for me… 

7:22 p.m. – I think this is funny and I just never thought about it before, but there are a couple elderly ladies running around getting autographs with the other collectors. I guess autograph seekers and fans come in all shapes and sizes. I just never thought about it before. Just be careful not to break a hip girls these dealers are mean! Lol…

7:33 p.m. – The play starts at 8:00 p.m. and it’s getting close to that time bummer… I think Charlotte Rae is going to be a no show… sigh… Ugh…

7:36 p.m. – Oh, a bunch of collectors are going crazy over someone on the side… It’s… Patrick Warburton from Scream 3, Seinfeld, The Tick and more… I don’t have anything for him, but he’s super cool, signing pretty much everything put in front of him.

7:38 p.m. – Some of these dealers are relentless almost pushing Patrick into the street getting him to sign more… sigh…

7:43 p.m. –Oh, there’s someone else… It’s Lorenzo Lamas… lol… Mr. Renegade himself. Again I don’t have anything for him but he signs a lot as he’s walking up to the entrance… Time is really getting short… sigh… No Facts of Life star Charlotte Rae… 

7:48 p.m. – Oh, there’s Greg Grunberg from Heroes and Alias. I have my Alias poster for him that I’ve been working on forever… He’s very cool, and is happy to sign for everyone. I mean if Greg Grunberg is getting mobbed you know it’s busy! Lol…

7:50 p.m. – George Costanza is here! Mr. Jason Alexander! Again I don’t have my Seinfeld stuff with me, but he’s like over the top cool. Taking so much time with everyone who asks… I mean like overly nice!

7:51 p.m. – Suddenly I see a tuft of white hair in the mix of people. There are people everywhere… And I think that might be Ms. Charlotte Rae. I head in that direction and see Pinky heading there as well.

7:52 p.m. – I get up and Pinky holds up her hand cause she already asked for a photo… YES CHARLOTTE RAE IS HERE! Mrs. G!

7:53 p.m. – Charlotte Rae asked Pinky to help navigate her though the crowd and she would be happy to do a picture… So, I’m holding my lunchbox and helping Pinky and Charlotte Rae navigate though thee crowd of people.

7:54 p.m. – I’m telling you the crowd is really thick, and it’s tough to get her through and I’m six three and holding a Facts of Life lunchbox! Lol…

7:56 p.m. – Finally Pinky and I get her to the VIP red carpet line and Charlotte Rae stops to take a photo with Pinky first and then signs my lunchbox. I get down on my knees to take a photo and she is very sweet.

7:59 p.m. – I just met Mrs. Garrett! I’m dying!

8:03 p.m. – Oh crap there’s Lea Thompson. I have my All The Right Moves poster for her. She is so friendly and is happy to sign for Pinky and I. That was random. Lea said to me, “Wow, you’re prepared!” I was like, you have to be! Lol…

8:11 p.m. – Scotty didn’t get Ms. Charlotte Rae, but he got Judd Nelson, and the girl from Rent he was looking for so it wasn’t a loss for him. He lost us in the crowd. How can you miss a six foot three guy carrying a facts of life lunchbox I don’t know, but with a crowd that think it’s understandable! Whoo Hoo!